Which card to return?

[Bende]

[hv=d=e&v=b&n=s542hakq52dq87cq6&e=st8hj63dat6caj975]266|200|Scoring: MP

pass - pass - pass - 1♥;

2♣ - 2♠ - 3♣ - 3♠;

pass - pass - 4♠ - all pass[/hv]

 

You are playing match points and decide to enter the action with 2♣ against inexperienced opponents playing a natural four card major system. Partner leads the ♣4 (third highest) and the trick continues ♣6-♣A-♣3. What do you lead at trick 2?

[blackshoe]

♣5

[Phil]

I would return the ♣7 (original 4th best) and consider that to be standard.

 

I think there's been at least two threads on this in the past.

[mikeh]

I would return the ♣7 (original 4th best) and consider that to be standard.

 

I think there's been at least two threads on this in the past.

Can't recall the threads, but agree with the concept.

 

BTW, if the question was whether to switch, the answer is a close 'no', at least for me.

 

It seems to me that a switch is necessary only in rare circumstances...the holding that comes to mind, for declarer, is AKQxx xx Jxxxx x, where we need to underlead in diamonds.

 

Is this possible? Of course, and maybe we should worry about it, but if we make that switch we may find declarer with KQJxx xx KJxx xx, and now he wins the diamond in dummy and finds hearts 3-3 so pitches his club and has time to drive out the pointed aces.

[Bende]

I would return the ♣7 (original 4th best) and consider that to be standard.

 

I think there's been at least two threads on this in the past.

Can't recall the threads, but agree with the concept.

 

BTW, if the question was whether to switch, the answer is a close 'no', at least for me.

 

It seems to me that a switch is necessary only in rare circumstances...the holding that comes to mind, for declarer, is AKQxx xx Jxxxx x, where we need to underlead in diamonds.

 

Is this possible? Of course, and maybe we should worry about it, but if we make that switch we may find declarer with KQJxx xx KJxx xx, and now he wins the diamond in dummy and finds hearts 3-3 so pitches his club and has time to drive out the pointed aces.

Actually that doesn't seem to be possible, since that would leave partner with a five card club suit which doesn't fit with the ♣4 being third highest.

 

What I really wanted to see was if someone considered laying down the ♦A to get a signal from partner instead of returning a club. If we return a club, partner must find the diamond switch from the king if he has it.

[mikeh]

I would return the ♣7 (original 4th best) and consider that to be standard.

 

I think there's been at least two threads on this in the past.

Can't recall the threads, but agree with the concept.

 

BTW, if the question was whether to switch, the answer is a close 'no', at least for me.

 

It seems to me that a switch is necessary only in rare circumstances...the holding that comes to mind, for declarer, is AKQxx xx Jxxxx x, where we need to underlead in diamonds.

 

Is this possible? Of course, and maybe we should worry about it, but if we make that switch we may find declarer with KQJxx xx KJxx xx, and now he wins the diamond in dummy and finds hearts 3-3 so pitches his club and has time to drive out the pointed aces.

Actually that doesn't seem to be possible, since that would leave partner with a five card club suit which doesn't fit with the ♣4 being third highest.

 

What I really wanted to see was if someone considered laying down the ♦A to get a signal from partner instead of returning a club. If we return a club, partner must find the diamond switch from the king if he has it.

You're right about the club suit, of course :P But what else is he going to switch to after a count club?